A sculpture of first lady Melania Trump will replace the original wooden piece that was set on fire in Slovenia earlier in 2020.
The sculpture, commissioned by U.S. artist Brad Downey, is a bronze replica of the original, which was placed near Trump’s hometown in Sevnica, Slovenia.
Downey, who also commissioned the original sculpture, said he hoped the statue would help foster a dialogue about Trump’s status as an immigrant while being married to a president with strict immigration policies.
The sculpture was set on fire by unknown arsonists on July 4.
Downey said he believed the burning of the original sculpture was symbolic of “political tensions” in the United States and was done out of protest of President Trump, according to the Guardian.
The commissioner denied accusations that he had sanctioned the burning of the statue, saying he was not responsible for setting ablaze the piece himself and that he did not commission anyone else to do so.
The new figure, Downey said, is designed to be “as solid as possible,” being made out of a durable material to avoid another potential destruction.
The original sculpture, which remains charred and blistered from the fire, went on show at an art gallery in the Slovenian beach resort of Koper earlier in September.
Police have yet to find the perpetrators who set the original sculpture on fire.
